And after I had played some while, and he looking out of the window,
he called to me and said: 'Canst thou lull thy lion to sleep,
so that thou mayst leave him for a little? For I would fain have
thee up here.'
"I yeasaid that, and chid the beast, and then sang to him
till he lay down and slept like a hound weary with hunting.
And then I went up into the Lord's chamber; and as it happed,
all the while of my playing I had had my short-sword naked in
my hand, and thus, I deem without noting it, yet as weird would,
I came before the tyrant, where he sat with none anigh him
save this Otter and another man-at-arms. But when I saw him,
all the blood within me that was come of one mother with my
brother's blood stirred within me, and I set my foot on the
foot-pace of this murderer's chair, and hove up my short-sword,
and clave his skull, in front and with mine own hand:
not as he wrought, not as he wrought with my brother.
"Then I turned about to Otter (who had his sword in his fist
when it was too late) till he should speak. Hah Otter,
what didst thou say?"
Otter laughed: Quoth he, "I said: thus endeth the worst man in the world.
Well done, lion-tamer! thou art no ill guest, and hast paid on
the nail for meat, drink and lodging. But what shall we do now?
Then thou saidst; 'Well, I suppose thou wilt be for slaying me.'
'Nay,' said I, 'We will not slay thee; at least not for this, nor now,
nor without terms.
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